For Liverpool, the mission tonight is theoretically easy – get a consequence towards Paris Saint-Germain which’ll guarantee development to the Champions League quarter-finals, even when it comes at a price.
The primary leg noticed the Ligue 1 giants dominate possession and it was a comparatively quiet evening for referee Davide Massa, who awarded simply 10 free kicks and confirmed one yellow card to both group.
Nonetheless, the id of the Reds participant who entered the pocket book was important, as the chance of him being suspended for future video games has now elevated.
5 Liverpool gamers liable to suspension if booked tonight
UEFA’s disciplinary guidelines for his or her membership competitions state that, ‘from the primary match within the group stage, gamers and group officers are suspended for the following competitors match after three cautions, which didn’t end in a pink card, in addition to following any subsequent odd-numbered warning (fifth, seventh, ninth, and many others.)’.
That leaves 5 Liverpool gamers liable to being suspended for the primary leg of the quarter-finals, ought to they be booked tonight and the Reds advance to the final eight of the Champions League.
Alexis Mac Allister has had 4 yellow playing cards within the event this season, already serving a ban for the win over Girona in December, whereas final week Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott have been joined on two cautions by Virgil van Dijk (WhoScored).
An additional six LFC gamers have one yellow card in Europe thus far this time period, though a type of (Joe Gomez) is at present sidelined with a hamstring drawback.
No low-cost yellow playing cards tonight, please!
If Liverpool’s defence are labored as laborious tonight as they have been within the first leg in Paris, Slot could be watching a few of the match behind his fingers as he begs for Konate, Van Dijk and Robertson to not choose up any low-cost bookings.
With Gomez not anticipated again for one more whereas but, our centre-back choices for the primary leg of the quarter-final might be fairly skinny on the bottom – that’s, in fact, if we get previous PSG at Anfield. A defensive partnership of Jarell Quansah and Wataru Endo towards both Aston Villa or Membership Brugge (ought to we get by means of) isn’t out of the query.
If the Reds get the required consequence tonight and have no person booked, those that are on one yellow card or fewer can relaxation so much simpler, as all earlier yellows are wiped on completion of the quarter-finals.
The proper state of affairs would’ve been for Liverpool to be in such a snug place that the gamers who’re one reserving away from a ban might’ve been rested tonight. Nonetheless, after going through 27 photographs on the Parc des Princes, we received’t complain about having a result in take again to Anfield!
Initially, let’s hope we are able to end the job on house soil, and {that a} draw or win doesn’t come at the price of lacking a number of essential gamers for the primary leg of the quarter-finals.
